Module PHL2022 for 2019/0
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
PHL2022: Sex and Death: Introduction to the Philosophy of Biology
This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.
Module Aims
The philosophy of biology is one of the most exciting and rapidly developing areas of philosophy. It involves close analysis of numerous aspects of biology, both contemporary and historical, and examines conceptual and methodological innovation in a range of life sciences. Students successfully completing this module will have acquired a detailed knowledge of the central issues, problems, disputes and unresolved questions of the philosophy of biology
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. develop some understanding of the conceptual issues raised by contemporary theories of evolution, heredity, development and ecology 2. acquire knowledge of important examples of conceptual change and theoretical conflict in biology; 3. appreciate the interaction between empirical data and conceptual frameworks in the development of several areas of the life sciences; |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. apply an analytic understanding to complex issues and subject matter; 5. appreciate the role and importance of detailed empirical knowledge for philosophical understanding 6. analyse and communicate ideas in a clear, rational, and carefully considered way; 7. detect and diagnose fallacies, specious arguments, and errors in reasoning; |
| Personal and Key Skills | 8. demonstrate in assessed work and tutorial discussions: Precision of thought and expression (oral and written) 9. think logically and analyse critically 10. think and work creatively, self-critically, and independently; 11. participate effectively in group discussion and argument. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
- What is evolution?
- Evolutionary explanations of human nature
- Selfish genes
- Altruism and group selection
- Adaptation and function
- Genes, genetics and molecular biology
- Evolution and development
- Ecology: biodiversity, niche construction, conservation
- Species and the tree of life
- Philosophy of biology in practice
- Summarizing philosophy of biology; revision; essay and exam discussion
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 16.5 | 133.5 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 16.5 | The module will be taught and learned via weekly one-and-a-half-hour seminars, which will consist of a |
| Guided Independent study | 133.5 | A variety of activities directed by module convener. |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation in seminars | Weekly | 1-11 | Verbal feedback |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 30 | 10 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 60 | 3,000 words | 1-10 | |
| Examination | 30 | 1 hour | 1-10 | |
| Presentation | 10 | 10 minutes | 1-10 |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (3,000 words) | 1-10 | August/September reassessment period |
| Examination | Examination (1 hour) | 1-10 | August/September reassessment period |
| Presentation | Presentation script and slides | 1-10 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
*Sterelny, K., and Griffiths, P. 1999. Sex and Death: An Introduction to Philosophy of Biology. University of Chicago Press. [*This is the core text for all lectures.]
Hull, D.L., and Ruse, M. (Eds.). 2007. The Cambridge Companion to the Philosophy of Biology. Cambridge University Press.
Hull, D.L., and Ruse, M. (Eds.). 1998. Philosophy of Biology. Oxford University Press. Matthen, M., and Stephens, C. (Eds.). 2007. Philosophy of Biology. Elsevier.
Ruse, M. (Ed.). 2008. The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Biology. Oxford University Press. Sarkar, S., and Plutynski, A. (Eds.). 2008. A Companion to the Philosophy of Biology. Blackwell. Indicative web based resources e.g. ELE
